Pa.-NJ deal could allow Delaware dredging

The governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey today announced what appears to be at least a temporary truce in an 18-month deadlock over whether to deepen 100 miles of the Delaware River.

Speaking outside the offices of the Delaware River Port Authority in Camden, Gov. Ed Rendell said the Keystone State will assume all costs and agree to dispose of 26 million cubic yards of dredge waste at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

He described the agreement as a breakthrough that will allow the project to proceed, but said New Jersey will be involved in preparing a revised environmental impact statement.

However, Gov. Jon Corzine indicated he still has strong reservations about the project and that the agreement was primarily intended to unfreeze activities at DRPA.

Corzine did not attend Rendell's press conference since he is running the state from his gubernatorial mansion in Princeton while recuperating from a serious traffic accident last month.

"This agreement will allow the DRPA board to resume meeting so it can fulfill its financial obligations and focus exclusively on maintaining and upgrading critical infrastructure in the Delaware River region," Corzine said in a written statement.

"My position on dredging itself has not changed. I still have serious environmental and economic concerns about the wisdom and propriety of dredging. The burden of proof falls on those who believe this project should go forward," Corzine said.

At its first meeting in 18 months, the bi-state agency, which is run jointly by the two states, agreed to transfer the dredging project to the Philadelphia Region Port Authority. Of the $38.5 billion in remaining DRPA funds, Pennsylvania will use its half for the dredging, while New Jersey will support economic redevelopment projects within its state.

While Rendell praised his counterpart, environmentalists attacked him for what they consider a betrayal of campaign promises to oppose the project.

"This is purely a political deal cut between political allies, regardless of the ramifactions for our region," said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper and an environmental activist.

However, about three dozen members of International Longshoremen's Association Local 1271 showed up to cheer Rendell's announcement. John Lafferty, the group's business agent, said the environmental impact should be minimal, and the economic benefits huge, particularly for his members. All nearby ports along the Eastern Seaboard have deeper channels than the Delaware's 40 foot depth, he said.

"We have to stay competitive. Now we can grow. Without it, we would have shriveled up," he said.

As part of the deal, officials will ask the Army Corps of Engineers to do an updated environmental impact study within six months with the participation of both states.